Celebrity Alumni

Some colleges have a knack for churning out graduates destined for bigger and better things. Here are a few that produced several students who climbed to great heights—without any Ivy to cling to.

Case Western Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist Dennis Kucinich, congressman and former Democratic presidential candidate T. William Samuels, CEO and chief distiller of Maker's Mark bourbon whisky

University of Hawaii Dick Parsons, chairman of Citigroup Bette Midler, actress Ann Durham, President Obama’s mother Beau Bridges, actor

Hofstra University Francis Ford Coppola, director Norm Coleman, US senator from Minnesota Avi Arad, CEO of Marvel Studios Steve Bartels, president/COO of Island Def Jam Music Group Carol Alt, model

Indiana University Mark Cuban, entrepreneur John Chambers, chairman and CEO of Cisco Systems Joe Buck, sportscaster James Watson, co-discoverer of DNA structure

Reed College Steve Jobs, founder and CEO of Apple Computer Ry Cooder, songwriter Barbara Ehrenreich, author Emilio Pucci, fashion designer

University of Rochester Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate and Energy secretary Barry Meyer, chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. Debra Jo Rupp, actress

Santa Clara University Leon Panetta, former Clinton chief of staff and nominee to be director of the CIA Dee Dee Myers, former Clinton spokeswoman and political commentator Janet Napolitano, former governor of Arizona and secretary of Homeland Security Khaled Hosseini, author

William and Mary Jon Stewart, comedian Robert Gates, secretary of Defense Glenn Close, actress

RELATED: The New College Rankings by Kathleen Kingsbury

The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Renee Fleming attended the University of Rochester. She attended SUNY Pottsdam.

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